"Your Tripod" reflects the personal Fourth Day journeys of its authors and editors. We are happy to have companions like you share in this project. Our prayer is that these reflections will invite and inspire your Fourth Day journey of Piety, Study and Action as much as writing or editing them inspires our journey and brings us all close moments with Jesus and our neighbors.
Brothers and sisters:We, though many, are one Body in Christ and individually parts of one another.Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us exercise them:(Romans 12:5,6)
In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.O LORD, my heart is not proud, nor are my eyes haughty(Psalm 131: 1,2)
(Jesus) replied to him, “A man gave a great dinner to which he invited many….Then the master of the house in a rage commanded his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in here the poor and the crippled,the blind and the lame. … Go out to the highways and hedgerows and make people come in that my home may be filled.For, I tell you, none of those men who were invited will taste my dinner.’” (Luke 14:16, 21, 23-24)
Piety
St. Martin, You were called “father of the poor” because no poor person who came to ask your help would leave you empty-handed. You took care of the hungry and the sick in such a way that you inspire others to follow the same path. You gained your entrance into the eternal life because of your self-abnegation and sacrifice for the poor. Enable us, O great saint, to be generous with the poor, to share our time and resources to the needy and the sick, also, inspire us to visit prisons and hospitals that we may give comfort to the suffering. Amen.[1]
Study
Today is the feast day of St. Martin de Porres.Born illegitimately of a Spanish gentleman and a freed Black slave woman, in Martin’s day, he would certainly have been one of those which the Master’s servants in Jesus’ parable pulled from the highways and hedgerows.In fact, until Martin entered in 1603, no Black person was allowed to profess to the Dominicans.[2]His humility, works of charity and great devotion to the Eucharist broke open the door that had been closed against him – and others who were “poor, crippled, blind and lame” in the eyes of the church society.
No wonder the Master in Jesus’ story is angry.His invitation is not respected.His gift is squandered by the “elect”.It is not hard to make the connection that Paul’s beautiful description of the many parts distributed by God to form one body constitutes an opportunity to accept God’s invitation and make use of God’s gifts.In prayerfully discovering our gifts (a lifetime of prayer) we are offered unlimited opportunities to attend the feast.What excuses have we used to decline the invitation?Martin de Porres offers us an example of courage, risk-taking, speaking truth to power and putting the needs of others first.
Action
Who are in the highways and byways of our lives who we try mightily to ignore.What is it about our God-given gifts which we do not accept or trust?It is God reaching out the highways and byways through us.Can we sit out the feast?Spend some time reading about St. Martin de Porres and pray some of the many prayers to him for insight and guidance.
